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1936 Annual Report for the Lane Memorial Library

REPORT OF TRUSTEES

The trustees of the Hampton Public Library have had as their primary purpose to make the library a source of pride to every resident and a benefit to the whole town. In the pursuit of this objective we feel that we have been to a considerable extent successful. Visitors from out of town often comment upon our well-kept grounds, our beautiful library building, and our up-to-date selection of books and periodicals.

Owing to the generous appropriation by the town we have been able to keep the library open three afternoons and evenings during the fall and winter months, and this additional afternoon and evening have been greatly appreciated by the public. We are glad to be able to state that the reference library is more and more used by the pupils and is of great assistance to them in their work.

In the early part of the winter we had the windows and doors weatherstripped. This should result in a considerable saving in fuel and in additional comfort during the cold months. In the summer the weatherstripping should be a protection from the dust of the street, which more or less injures the books.

The library is in the peculiar position of being submerged by its own success. We are beginning to need additional shelf room for the books. The town is increasing in population and the library building, ample in size when constructed, should be enlarged to meet the growing demands upon it. The additional space could easily be secured by an extension in the rear to correspond with the porch in front. Before this is done, however, the vacant lot on Academy Avenue, adjoining the library lot, should be acquired so that there will be room for a driveway after the extension is built. We understand that this lot can now be purchased for a reasonable sum. Should the lot on Academy Avenue be sold and a building erected close to the library, it might detract seriously from the beauty of the structure.

SARAH M. LANE,
O. RAYMOND GARLAND
EDGAR WARREN.

LIBRARY TREASURER’S REPORT

RECEIPTS

Cash on hand Feb. 1, 1936:

$ 449.10

Received from Town:

1,800

Currier fund:

70.00

Lydia A. Lane fund:

6.25

Ida M. Lane fund:

12.50

Duplicate books sold:

+ 5.00

$ 2,342.85

EXPENDITURES

Margaret S. Noyes, Librarian

$ 450.00

Walter S. Noyes, Janitor

64.00

Edgar Warren, Treasurer

25.00

Paid for new books

856.53

Periodicals for reading room

91.00

Binding books

29.28

Electric lights

77.07

Fuel Oil

76.37

Hampton Water Works

11.70

Walter S. Noyes, labor on lawn

35.00

Work on heater

13.93

E. A. Parlee Co., weatherstripping

127.22

Eugene M. Leavitt, loam & fertilizer

15.00

Stamps, stationery, expressage, small bills

15.00

New Hampshire Library Ass'n

3.00

Letter files

+ 1,53

-$ 1,891.63

Balance on hand:

$ 451.22

EDGAR WARREN,Treasurer.

REPORT OF LIBRARIAN

I hereby submit the following report of Hampton Public Library from February 1, 1936 to January 31, 1937:

Number of volumes added by purchase:

437

Adult Fiction:

200

Adult Non-Fiction:

133

Juvenile Fiction:

73

Juvenile Non-Fiction:

31

Number of volumes added by gift:

60

Books discarded:

100

Circulation:

Book Circulation:

18,520

Magazine Circulation:

+ 1,400

Book and Magazine Circulation:

19,920

CIRCULATION ACCORDING TO CLASSES

Adult
Fiction

Adult
Non-Fiction

Juvenile
Fiction

Juvenile
Non-Fiction

Feb.

1,258

284

364

85

Mar.

1,095

257

403

68

Apr.

918

192

365

72

May

786

189

329

44

June

787

150

213

53

July

937

146

225

36

Aug

934

164

246

54

Sept.

884

181

228

43

Oct.

924

236

406

76

Nov.

1,074

204

323

65

Dec.

971

202

264

55

Jan.

1,206

241

217

66

Totals:

11,774

2,446

3,583

717

Both book and magazine circulation show some increase over the preceding year.

The Library has been open for three days a week since the first of October. It is the expressed desire of many that it may be a permanent feature.

Several books have been rebound. The copies of The Hampton Union for one year have been bound in one volume, and the Town Reports for the five years 1921- 1926 have been bound in one volume. The remaining copies are to be sent to the bindery in the near future.

A Library District meeting was held at the Library on June 25. Ten towns were represented. The morning roll call was conducted by Miss H. G. Fernald, of the Portsmouth Library, on the topic “A most unusual reference question”. Miss Vaughan, of Portsmouth, gave an interesting talk on “Methods of preserving historical data”. Miss Roys, of Exeter, gave a book talk, and addresses were made by Miss Annable and Miss Brackett. The main feature of the afternoon session was a talk by Dr. H. C. Bingham on the work of the National Youth Administration.

Book Week was observed by the display of the poster “Books To Grow On” and several new juvenile books were purchased at this time.